WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called bond, getting out of jail

The bond and its conditions, set to give reasonable assurance the person will appear. The person's ability to make it is considered, along with the offense, safety and criminal history.

Also called fine only offense, ticket offense

The lowest offense level, for which the Penal Code sets a fine of up to $500.

Also called marital property

Property either spouse has during or at the end of the marriage is presumed to be community property, and the court divides the estate in the manner it deems just and right.

Also called custody, managing conservator

What the Family Code calls custody. The best interest of the child is always the primary consideration, and parents are presumed to be appointed joint managing conservators.

Also called personal debt, debt collector

An obligation, or an alleged one, primarily for personal, family or household purposes. Anyone who directly or indirectly engages in collecting one is a debt collector under the chapter.

Also called trespassing, no trespassing

Entering or remaining on or in another's property without effective consent, after notice that entry was forbidden or after notice to depart. Entry means intrusion of the entire body.

Also called vicious dog

A dog that made an unprovoked attack causing bodily injury, or acted in a way that made a person reasonably believe it would attack, outside an enclosure reasonably certain to hold it.

Also called lethal force

Force a peace officer is justified in using only when reasonably believed immediately necessary to make an arrest or prevent escape, and either the conduct involved deadly force or there is a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury if the arrest is delayed.

Also called DTPA, consumer protection

The act that declares false, misleading or deceptive acts in trade or commerce unlawful, and lets a consumer who relied on a listed practice recover economic damages, with more where the conduct was knowing or intentional.

Also called evading, fleeing, running from police

Intentionally fleeing from a person known to be a peace officer who is attempting lawfully to arrest or detain the person. It is a Class A misdemeanor, and more in a vehicle or after a prior conviction.

Also called eviction case, eviction

The suit in the justice court for the precinct where the property is, through which a landlord recovers a home. The court decides who has the right to actual possession, not who owns the title.

Also called expungement, clearing a record, erasing an arrest

The order reaching the records and files of an arrest. A person tried and acquitted is entitled to it, and so, in the cases the chapter lists, is a person released whose charge did not end in a final conviction and is no longer pending.

Also called refusing to give a name, false name

The offense of refusing to give a name, residence address or date of birth when lawfully arrested and asked, or of giving a false one when lawfully arrested or lawfully detained.

Also called domestic violence, dating violence

An act by a member of a family or household against another member intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault or sexual assault, or a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of it. It also includes child abuse and dating violence.

Also called new address, where to send the deposit

The written statement of where to send the refund. Until the tenant gives one, the landlord is not obligated to return the deposit or to give a written description of damages and charges.

Also called home exemption

A home exempt from seizure for creditors' claims. An urban homestead is not more than 10 acres, and the proceeds of selling one are not subject to seizure for six months after the sale.

Also called deemed consent, breath test consent

The rule that a person arrested for driving while intoxicated is deemed to have consented to breath or blood specimens. Before asking, the officer says that a refusal may be used in a later prosecution and suspends the license for not less than 180 days.

Also called recording a call, wiretap, secret recording

Intentionally intercepting a wire, oral or electronic communication, or using or disclosing one known to be intercepted unlawfully, a felony of the second degree.

Also called interfering with an officer, obstruction

With criminal negligence interrupting, disrupting, impeding or otherwise interfering with a peace officer performing a duty or exercising authority, a Class B misdemeanor.

Also called drunk, impaired, DWI

Either not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties because of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug or any other substance, or having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.

Also called small claims court, JP court

The court that hears small claims, with original jurisdiction of civil matters where the amount in controversy is not more than $20,000, not counting interest, and of eviction cases.

Also called LTC, handgun license, concealed carry

The handgun license, which requires among other things being at least 21, six months' residence, and no felony conviction. A holder carrying a handgun who is asked for identification shows both a driver's license or state identification and the handgun license.

Also called statute of limitations, time limit to sue

How long after a cause of action accrues a suit may be brought: four years for a debt, and two years for personal injury, property damage, conversion and eviction suits.

Also called lockout, changed the locks

A landlord's changing the door locks on a tenant delinquent in rent, allowed only where the lease gives that right and written notice came first. The landlord must provide a key to the new lock at any hour, whether or not any rent is paid.

Also called judge after arrest, arraignment

The judicial officer an arrested person goes before without unnecessary delay and no later than 48 hours after the arrest, who tells the person the accusation and the rights that follow, among them the right to counsel and the right to remain silent.

Also called marijuana, weed, cannabis, pot

The plant Cannabis sativa L., its seeds and preparations of them, as the controlled substances act defines it. Possessing a usable quantity is an offense, and two ounces or less is a Class B misdemeanor.

Also called fired for cause

A reason for discharge connected with the last work that disqualifies a claimant from unemployment benefits until they return to work and work six weeks or earn wages equal to six times the weekly benefit amount.

Also called ordinary wear, wear and tear

Deterioration that results from the intended use of a dwelling. A landlord may not keep any part of a deposit to cover it.

Also called three day notice, eviction notice, notice to quit

The written notice a landlord gives before filing against a tenant who defaults or holds over: at least three days, unless the written lease or agreement sets a shorter or longer period. A tenant who keeps paying after a foreclosure sale, where the buyer does not continue the lease, gets at least 30 days.

Also called open beer, open bottle

A bottle, can or other receptacle holding any amount of an alcoholic beverage that is open, has been opened, has a broken seal, or has had some of its contents removed. Possessing one in the passenger area of a vehicle on a public highway is an offense.

Also called good reason to believe

What a magistrate has to be satisfied exists, on sufficient facts set out in a sworn affidavit, before any search warrant may issue.

Also called restraining order, order of protection

The order a court renders after finding that family violence has occurred, effective for the period it states, up to two years.

Also called fix it and deduct, deduct repairs from rent

The tenant's remedy of having a condition repaired and deducting the cost from rent, once the landlord is liable. One of the notices says the tenant intends to repair, and the deduction in any month may not exceed one month's rent or $500, whichever is greater.

Also called resisting, resisting search

Intentionally preventing or obstructing a person known to be a peace officer from arresting, searching or transporting anyone, by using force against the officer or another.

Also called retaliatory eviction, payback

A landlord's filing an eviction except on the grounds the code allows, cutting services, raising the rent, ending the lease or depriving the tenant of the premises within six months after the tenant in good faith asked for repairs, used a remedy, complained to a code authority, or took part in a tenant organization.

Also called cooling off period, three day rule

A buyer's right, where a seller personally solicits a sale away from its place of business for goods or services over $25, to cancel no later than midnight of the third business day after signing.

Also called warrant

A written order issued by a magistrate to a peace officer. None may issue unless sufficient facts first satisfy the magistrate that probable cause exists, on a sworn affidavit, and most search warrants are executed within three whole days.

Also called deposit, damage deposit

Any advance of money, other than a rental application deposit or an advance payment of rent, that is intended mainly to secure performance under a lease of a dwelling. The landlord refunds it on or before the 30th day after the tenant surrenders the premises.

Also called alimony, spousal support

Support the court may order for a spouse who will lack enough property to meet minimum reasonable needs, only in the narrow cases the code lists. It may not exceed the lesser of $5,000 a month or 20 percent of the paying spouse's average monthly gross income.

Also called following, being followed

Knowingly engaging, on more than one occasion and as part of the same course of conduct directed at a specific person, in conduct that is harassment or threatening, that causes fear and would do so to a reasonable person. It is a felony of the third degree.

Also called state jail

The felony level below third degree: 180 days to two years in a state jail, and a fine of up to $10,000.

Also called stealing, shoplifting

Unlawfully appropriating property with intent to deprive the owner of it, which is unlawful without the owner's effective consent, or when the property is stolen and known to be. The class follows the value taken.

Also called city street speed, town limit

Territory along a highway built up with business, industry or homes spaced less than 100 feet apart for at least a quarter mile. On a street there other than an alley, the lawful speed is 30 miles per hour unless a special hazard requires slower.

Also called unpaid wages claim, payday law claim

A verified claim an employee not paid as the chapter requires files with the Texas Workforce Commission no later than the 180th day after the wages became due.

Also called workers comp, work injury insurance

Insurance coverage that an employer, other than a public employer, may elect to obtain. An employer that does is subject to the workers' compensation subtitle.

Also called eviction order, writ

The order a landlord who wins an eviction is entitled to. It may not issue before the sixth day after the judgment unless a possession bond has been filed, and a sheriff or constable posts a written warning on the front door at least 24 hours before carrying it out.

Also called ticket, citation, promise to appear

The citation an officer issues showing the time and place to appear. For speeding, a phone violation and an open container, a person who signs the written promise to appear is given the copy and promptly released.